Summer Fun

I know I say this a lot...but time seems to be flying by! I can't believe that it is almost September...which means fall is just around the corner! There are so many things that we had wanted to do before summer ended. One of our favorite things to do is to have a picnic! We went back up to Georgetown..they have an awesome park and playground for the kids and had a fantastic day! The weather was great...a little warm but we all hung in there and had some ice cream to cool off! The kids continue to bring us entertainment on a daily basis. Nico has decided that Lucia can stay...he was ready to leave her at a store! He has such an amazing sense of humor...he might be on the stand up circut at some point. One night my mom was reading this prayer card we found in my Nana's stuff and it was a prayer about growing older and it was really funny. She would read from the card and then we would all laugh. Well, Nico had a deck of cards he was playing with and when she was done reading....he picked up a card and pretended to read it..pausing and then laughing and slapping his had on his knee! Hilarious!

Lucia is a bundle of smiles. She is such a happy baby and loves to watch Nico run around her. It is such an important reminder to me everyday that babies are so different from each other. It is so important to treat them as individuals and encourage their personalities. Lucia doesn't cry much and is a great little sleeper. I read a book and it has really helped me understand babies patterns..eating, activities and sleeping. So far it's working like a charm....I think about if i would have tried to do things with Nico...since he was not a sleeper but remind myself that he has always been on his own pattern and had his own agenda. We love the experience of having two babies that are truly different and watching them both grow!

Here are some pics from some of our summer days:

Daddy and Nico swinging at the park in Georgetown

Sweet baby girl almost 8 weeks old

On the ride home from Georgetown, Lulu was so giddy

Nico was out cold!

The girls in Georgetown!

Papa with Nico and their cool hats

After a bath

I gave Nico some Nutella and turned my head for

a minute...when I turned around i had a surprised look

on my face..so Nico made the same face and said OOOO!

Daddy and his boy hanging out on the back porch

on a warm summer evening! Nico LOVES to be outside!

Fire marshall Nico

Something surprised lucia...Nico almost jumped on her--

her little eyes got sooo big!

1 Month

My sweet Lucia, you are almost 5 weeks old! The time has flown by and you are such an amazing little girl! You smiled cooed at me when you were only 2 weeks old. You are such a happy girl and you have brought so much sunshine into our lives. Nico loves you so much and is so curious about you. You have already been to a lot of places....the zoo, the children's museum, the spray park and have been on lots of walks with the family. One of your very favorite things to do is to sleep on Papa's belly...you just snooze away! Lucia Angelina, you come from a long line of strong, loving women and from what I have seen from you already...it's a part of who you are and the woman you will become. Thank you for being such a wonderful baby and know how much you are loved sweet girl.

WOW....2 kids really???

Okay, these pictures are out of order again! All I have to say is octomom...really? What was that lady thinking with having more kids...even if you do get a check frm the govt..she is crazy! No, seriously, we are having a blast and yes things have been at times challenging, chaotic, a bit stressful, but most of the time hilarious and fun. Lulu has been such a wonderful baby and little sister...although, I think if Nico could talk, he might ask when she is going back. One day last week, my parents and I and the kids went grocery shopping at Whole Foods...a little bit of a drive. The kids were great in the store with no problems. We get in the car to go home and Lucia starts to scream..and continues to scream and scream. About half way home, we all check on Nico and he has put his hands over his eyes and he has started to cry as if to say,"I just can't take her anymore! What is wrong with you people!" We made it and that day Nico went with Papa and his dad to get his first big boy haircut!

We are trying to focus on teaching Nico some fun words like Wow...so far nothing has wowed him enough to be his inspiration! Parenthood I have to say is more fun than I ever thought it would be and Lucia Nico are both just loves. My house may look like a romper play room for a couple of years but who cares right?!

Nana with lulu!

Nico before is haircut......

Nico after his haircut...and yes, we gave him a sucker so

he would sit still...a little drool..

He Loves corn on the cob..Nana makes it for him!

Lucia's close up

Uncle Ed's b-day..she looks so tiny..she was a week old here!

Thinking about life outside the womb..

Napping on Papa's belly...

Nico about to give his sister a big kiss!

At home

These pics are of when we arrived home! Lucia is not even 24 hours old!!! It was such a sweet welcome home to have Charlie's sister and brother come to visit us! aunt Kathy and Aunt Dorie came by too!

Aunt Kat

Big Bro

Charlie bought this shirt for Nico and he was so happy!

Aunt Dorie

nico wanted to try out his old car seat!

Uncle Ed

taking anap with Papa

Our little Sparkler!

Well, Miss Lucia Angelina arrived at 10:05 July 4th! She's happy and healthy and curious about her new world! I had been having contractions for about 2 weeks and then on the 4th I decided maybe I should go in and get checked. Our doctor was on call all day at the hospital so he said to come in and we would see if I had made any progress. I was definately in labor and he said we could either go home...and come back in whenever things progressed more or just see what happened at the hospital. So, we got checked around 12:30 in the afternoon and then just waited for things to happen. The Dr. broke my water around 2:00 and Charlie and I walked the halls to try to encourage more contractions. Since my contractions had not been consistant or strong enough over the last two weeks, and fluid didn't come out when he broke my water, he decided to give me some patocin(sp) and then things really started happening. My cousins Kathy and Dorie and my wonderful friend Brenda were there to help support Charlie because I didn't have an epidural again so things were starting to get rough!

Around 9:30 I was dialated to a 4/5 100% efaced and we just worked through the contractions....I am not going to lie....I begged everyone for an epidural! Then, at 10:00 I yelled that I had to push...and she was born at 10:05! She weighed in at 7lbs 3ounces and was 20 inches long.

She's such a delight and Nico is an awesome big brother! Our house feels full of excitement and love and we are so happy to have her home! We didn't stay in the hospital very long at all due to some insurance issues and we actually brought her home when she was only 15 hours old.

The pictures are all out of order so I am sorry. Welcome home our sweet angel....you have no idea how much you are loved!

Nico checking out his new sister with Daddy1

Sweet little Lucia!

Lucia meeting her cousin Laiq and Auntie Amber

for the first time

Elaine, my doctor's 4 year old came to visit

Cool dudes the day before she was born!

My little Lulu

Team Keri

The best husband in the world!

Before the pain!

Happy times!

Waiting.....

Yes, we are awaiting Miss Lucia's arrival! Her due date isn't until July 7th but things have been progressing. I have had contractions for about a 2 weeks and very consistent contractions for a week. I am dialated to a 2+ and 60% efaced but I really think little miss lu lu hears her wild brother and wants to stay put! We have had a great time getting ready to welcome you Lucia. Your dad organized and fixed your room...and if you ask Nico where his baby sister is he will come over and hug my big belly! The doctor thinks you might arrive this weekend so we have been staying close to home and waiting to see what clues you are going to give us!

I know things will be hectic for awhile but we are so looking forward to having 2 kids and a home filled with love, chaos and laughter! Nico can't wait to meet you and he really can't wait until you are big enough so that the two of you can cause a lot of mischief! Okay little girl..I am going to go to bed and we will see what happens tomorrow.

Nico..

Celebrating Family!

Memorial day weekend, Charlie's sister and her family visited from California! It was such an awesome time because they had their daughter Avery two weeks before Nico was born so this was a really big event for us to meet our neice and for Nico to meet his cousin!

We had a great weekend celebrating with Charlie's brother and sister that live here...good bbq and cheap entertainment with the kids! We loved having the kids together. Nico was in heaven and thought that it was super with all the girls! It meant the world to us that Chris and Tara would make the trip out here to be with family. It was a wonderful weekend and we are so grateful for the time together.

Sweet Avery having fun in the living room!

Kat, Briah and Nico just taking a break

Avery meets Uncle Ed for the first time!

Our trip to the zoo! Nico's first time and his first time

in his wagon! They were hilarious...they loved pulling each other's

hats off!

The gang!

Two little munchkins!

Tara is due in September and I felt like I was due that day!

Briah and Grace eating bbq

Avery loved discovering new things!

I am not sure what happened but this picture reposted! OOPS!